Plate registering and clamping device.



M. A. DROITGOUR.

PLATE REGISTERING AND OLAMPING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25,1912.

Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1. z.

20 J6 j J5 M. A; DROITOOUR.

PLATE REGISTERING AND OLAMPING DEVICE.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 25,1912.

1&75532. Patented 0013.14, 1913.

J 3 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ETNTTE MICHAEL ANDREW DROI'I'COUR, 0F OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MIEHLE PRINTING PRESS & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPO- RATION OF ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 25, 1912. Serial No. 705,778.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL A. DROIT- coon, a citizen of the United States, residing at ()ak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plate Registering and Clamping Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a plate registering and clamping device by which a printin plate or form may be positioned and held with a degree of facility, accuracy and security unattainable with the devices heretofore employed for the purpose.

Under the requirements of modern printing and especially where a plurality of impressions are to be made as in color printing it is of the greatest importance that the printing plate be caused to register exactly and that it be then so securely held as to pre clude any possibility of subsequent shifting in the slightest degree during the printing operations. It is also important that the devices for positioning and holding the plate be capable of rapid approximation to the plate and of final nice adjustment to effect registration.

My invention has more particular refer ence to that class of registering mechanism in which the base upon which the printing plate rests is provided within its upper face with a plurality of grooves within which the registering and clamping devices are guided for movement to and from the plate. These grooves are necessarily narrow and only deep enough to accommodate thevmechanism of the plate-adjusting devices, and the clamping device, with the exception of that portion which is adapted to engage the edge of the plate must be of a size to be accommodated wholly within the groove flush with or below the surface of the base and consequently it must be of comparatively small dimensions while at the same time it is required to be of great strength.

This invention has forits primary object the provision of plate registering and clamping means possessing these qualifications and in which the clamping device will be capable of ready positioning in the grooves to produce the approximate adjustment quickly, and a slow and powerful ultimate movement toward and against the plate to effect and maintain a nice adjustment and rigid clamping action upon the plate, which final clamping action shall be exerted. not only horizontally against the plate, but downwardly upon the same to positively press the plate against the base and overcome any looseness of fit or lost motionand all tendency to tilt. Hitherto it has been usual in this type of mechanism to provide the'groove with means such as overhanging and salient walls beneath which the holding device is confined and which serve as upper abutments against which the device is pressed by any tendency of the plate to rise. The amount of play requisite to permit the sliding movement of the device is suflicient to preclude an absolutely tight fit,

Patentedflct. 14,1913.

and the wedging action of beveled meeting edges of the device and the plate is necessarily depended upon to secure the downward clamping action which is the component of the forces employed. By my invention, no upper abutment for the device is provided and the forward movement of the device, as soon as the plate is encountered as an obstruction, is immediately transformed into a direct downward thrust by which the plate is held to the base with a degree of firmness not otherwise secured. These objects of the invention in the particular embodiment described and claimed in this application are attained by the employment of two intermeshing or interfitting screws arranged side by side with their axes parallel, each of said screws having multiple or parallel threads, the threads of the two screws being of difl'erent lead while the space between adjacent screw threads representing the pitch are practically equal. The threads of one of these screws co-act with a series of inclined ribs or wedge projections arranged in'the groove at its side whereby the turning of such screw by means of the driving screw causes the clamping member to travel both forwardly and downwardly and as soon as the forward travel of the clamp is arrested by engagement with the plate to be secured in position, the downward movement of the clamp alone effects the holding or registering of the plate in position.

A further object of the invention is the provision in the grooves of removable members provided with these series of diagonal or wedge projections for cooperation with the .screws and the manner of holding these members within the base is of a very simple and efiicient character.

The inventionas thus outlined and the manner of its operation will be readily understood from the following detailed description based upon the accompanying drawings wherein I have shown for purposes of illustration a preferred embodiment of the same.

In these drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the base plate of a press equlpped with the invention and indicating its relation to the printing plate mounted upon said base; Fig. 2 is a partial vertical section/through Fig. 1 on the line 2-2; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detaiLview, a fragment of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a similar section on the line 55 of Fig. 3. 1

In the drawing reference numeral- 11 designates the base upon which is to be secured in registering position a printing plate or form indicated as bounded by the dotted lines 12. This base is provided with a plurality of grooves or channels 13, which grooves are shown as formed obliquely for the purpose, as is well understood, of avoiding the necessity of forming other grooves at right angles thereto, the oblique or diagonal grooves enabling the clamping devices to be applied by movement along parallel lines to the four sides of the plate. The bottoms of these grooves are in the process of formation provided with marginal recesses or rabbets 14 adapted to receive the lower edges of strips or members 15 the rear plane faces of which rest against the inner side walls of the groove while the faces 16 with the series of oblique projections are opposed one to the other upon oppesite sides of the intervening space 17. The ribs or projections of these members extend obliquely at a substantial angle to the transverse axis of the groove and in opposite directions one to the other for a purpose hereinafter to be explained.

In order to provide for securing the holdingmembers 15 removably in position within the grooves, one of the members in each groove and the adjacent member in the next groove. are rovided in their upper edges, which are ush with the upper face of the base with arcuate recesses 18 which are adapted to be engaged by a marginal depending flange or spur 19 formed upon the head of a screw 20 mounted in the base between adjacent grooves. It will thus be seen that the screw 20 serves to securely holdinplace within adjacent grooves the two members upon that side of the grooves nearest said screw. This arrangement ening readily dropped into position within the grooves and there securely held below by the rabbeted joint and above by the screw heads.

The clamping device comprises a body portion 21 having an overhanging or forwardly projecting beveled hook portion 22 which, where the clamping device is used in connection with diagonal grooves, is disposed obliquely to the body portion 21 in order to apply pressure to the plate at an angle to the. general direction of the groove as will be readily understood. The elongated body portion of the clamp is adapted to fit snugly within the space 17 between the opposed series of ribs or projections on the faces of the holding members 15. Housed within the body of the clamp are a pair of screws 23 and 24, the driving screw 23 being provided advanta eously with two parallel threads each having a lead of nine to the inch and the driven screw 24 having six parallel or multiple threads each i with a lead of three to the inch whereby the pitch is the same in the two members and the threads will intermesh although of different lead. The axes of the screws 23 and 24 are arranged parallel, as will be seen from Fig. 4, and as shown in Fig. 5 the threaded portion of the screw 24 extends beyond one side wall of the clam body 21 with its threads inmesh with t e ribs of one of the holding members 15, while the ribs of the companion holding member 15 bear against the plane opposite face of the clamp body. The screw 23 is provided w th an axial bore 25 of angular cross section adapted to receive the angular shank of any suitable tool such as a key which may be inserted through the vertical opening 26 in the clamp body for the purpose of retating the said screw 23 and through it the screw 24 to cause the clamp to travel bodily along the roove by the engagement between the threa s of the screw 24 and the ribs of the -holding strip 15. r

As the grooves 13 are not provided wlth overhanging or salient walls, it is not necessary to insert the clamp at the end of the groove and then move the same along said groove to a position approximating the edge of the plate but the clamp may be inserted downwardly into the groove adjacent the plate edge in a diagonal direction away from said plate, the threads of the screw 24 meshing withthe diagonal ribs of the str1p 15 and sliding freely down such incline without rotating the screw. If the clamp is inserted withln the groove beginning at the edge of the plate it will come to rest at the bottom of the groove at a distance from the plate corresponding to the obliquity of the ribs. The rotation of the drive screw 23 acting upon the screw 24 will cause the screw 24 to advance along the holding strip toward the plate in a horizontal direction, the reaction being against the floor of the groove in the way of bottom friction. When the hook portion 22-of the clamp impinges against the beveled edge 27 of the plate 28 the forward travel of the clamp is prevented and the engagement between the threads of r the screw 24 and the ribs of the strip causes the forward movement of the clamp to be instantaneously transformed into a downward thrust which serves to press the plate 28 firmly against the base 1 by means of the overhanging hook 22 acting in a combined horizontal and downward direction upon the plate. Upon the reverse movement of the drive gear 23 the first tendency to impart a slight vertical movementto the 'clamp followed by a rearward horizontal travel whereby the plate is quickly released.

The arrangement of the intermeshing screws with their axes parallel to rotate in a common plane at right angles to the holding member makes for the greatest economy in space required for the operation of combined traction and clamping mechanism of a given size and also avoids the necessity of providing a rack in thebottom of the groove or upon the under face of overhanging retainingwalls, whereby a clamping device of superior strength is embodied within a limited amount of space. It also enables a downward as well as horizontal clamping action upon the plate to be obtained without lost motion due to looseness of fit of the clamping member beneath overhanging abutment surfaces.

It will be seen that but one of the holding members 15 in each groove is employed to cooperate wit-h a clamping device at any one time, the member upon the opposite side of the groove with its ribs reversely inclined is utilized by the clamp operating in an opposite direction upon the opposite edge of the plate so that one groove cooperates with a pair of clamps acting from opposite directions to clamp the plate in position upon the base. It will also be observed that with the arrangement of the spiral screws and obliquely ribbed holding strips described, the clip or clamp can be inserted into or removed from the groove in a vertical direc This enables the clamp to be inserted into the groove within a confined space as between the edges of closely adjacent plates.

7 As the screw 24, however, is ineffectual to reversely operate the screw 23, there can .be

no retrograde movement due to force employed at the plate. or holding member.

T I claim-- 1. Plate registering and clamping means including a grooved base, the groove having one of its walls marginally rabbeted, a.

mounted in the base with its head taking over and engaging the upper edge of the member to secure the same in place, a clamp disposed within the groove, and means carried by the clamp and arranged to engage the ribbed -member, substantially as described.

3. Plate registering and clamping means including a base provided with parallel grooves, the grooves having their bottoms marginally rabbeted, a ribbed member seated in each of the rabbets against the adjacent sidesof a pair of grooves, a securing device mounted in the basebetween the pair of grooves with its head taking over and engaging the upper edges of the adjacent members to secure the same in place, clamps disposed within the grooves, and means carried by the clamps and engaging the ribbed member, substantially as described.

4. Plate registering and clamping means including a base provided with a series of parallel grooves, the grooves having their bottoms marginally rabbeted along each side, a pair of ribbed members having their lower edges seated within the rabbets of each groove, a securing device comprising screws mounted in the base between each pair of contiguous grooves with its head provided with a depending flange taking over and engaging-the upper edge of the adjacent members in said grooves to secure the same in place, a clamp disposed within each of the grooves, and means carried by the clamp in engagement with the ribs of the members, substantially as described.

5. Plate registering and clamping means, including a grooved base provided upon its wall with ribs, a clamp disposed within the groove, a pair of screws carried by the clamp and rotating in a common plane, the thread of one of the screws in mesh both with the other screw and with the ribs andthe otherscrew provided; with driving means, substantially as described. j j

6. Plate registering and clamping means including a grooved base provided upon its wall with ribs, a clamp disposed within the groove, a pair of screws carried by the clamp, said screws being of difi'erent'lead and rotating in a common plane, the threads of one of the screws in mesh both with the other screw and with the ribs and the other screw provided with driving means, substantially as described.

7. Plate registering and clamping means including a grooved base provided upon its wall with ribs, a clamp disposed within the groove, two intermeshing screws of different lead carried by the clamp with their axes parallel and rotating in a common plane at right angles to the wall of the groove, the

threads of one of the screws meshing with the ribs and the other screw providedwith driving means, substantially as described.

8. Plate registering and clamping means including a grooved base provided upon its wall with obliquely arranged ribs, disposed at a substantial angle to the transverse axis of the groove, a clamp disposed within the groove, a screw carried by the clamp with its threads in mesh with the ribs, and means to drive said screw, substantially as described.

9. Plate registering and clamping means including a grooved base provided upon'its wall with obliquely arranged ribs, a clamp disposed within the groove, a pair of intermeshing screws of different lead carried by the clamp, one of the screws having spiral threads meshing with the ribs and the other screw provided with driving means, substantially as described.

10. Plate registering and clamping means including a grooved base provided upon its wall with obliquely arranged ribs, a clamp disposed within the groove, a pair of intermeshing screws of different lead carried by the clamp and rotating in a common plane at right angles to the wall of the groove, the

the ribs and the other screw provided with drivin means, substantially as described.

11. Plate registering and clamping means including a grooved base provided upon one of its side walls with obliquely arranged ribs, a clamp disposed within the groove, a Dair'of intermeshing screws of different lead housed within the clamp and rotating upon vertical axes, one of the screws having its threads projecting from the housing into mesh with the ribs and the other provided with driving means, substantially as described. l

12. Plate registering and clamping means including a grooved base provided upon one of its walls with ribs obliquely arranged in a vertical plane, a clamp disposed within the groove, a pair of intermeshing screws having threads of different .lead housed as within the clamp and rotating in a common threads of one of the screws in mesh with horizontal plane, the thread of the screw of greater lead meshing with the ribs, and the screw of smaller lead provided with driving means, substantially as described.

13. Plate registering and clamping means including a grooved base provided upon one of its walls with obliquely arranged ribs, a

clamp disposed within the groove, a spirally cal plane, a 'clamp disposed within the groove, a spirally threaded screw mounted within the body of the clamp in mesh with the ribs, a second spirally threaded screw mounted parallel. to the first screw and in mesh therewith, the two screws having threads of different lead, and means to drive the second screw to force the clamp downwardly in the groove, substantially as described.

15. The combination with a ribbed support, of a body to be propelled along said support, and a pair of coacting screws carried by the body, said screws mounted to rotate in a common plane at an angle to the ribbed face of the support, the thread of one of the screws in mesh both with the ribs and with the other screiv and the other screw provided with driving means, substantially as described. 1

16. The combination of a support having on its face obliquely arranged ribs, of a body to be propelled longitudinally and laterally of the support, and a pair of intermeshing screws carried by the body and having teeth of difi'erent lead, said screws mounted with their axes parallel to each other and substantially parallel to the ribbed face of the support, the screw of greater lead in mesh with the ribs and the other screw provided with driving means, substantially as described.

17. The combination with an obliquely ribbed support, of a body to be moved 1ongitudinally and transversely with reference to the support, a screw carried by the body and mounted to rotate in a plane at substantially right angles to the plane of the ribbed face-of the support and at an inclination to the ribs with its threads in mesh with said ribs, and 'means to rotate the screw, substantially as described.

18. The combination with a ribbed support fixed adjacent to and in a plane perpendicular to a suitable base, of a body to be clam ed upon said-base, and a pair'of intermeshmg spirally threaded screws carried by the body, said screws mounted to rotate in a plane parallel to the base, one of the screws in mesh with the ribs of the support and the other provided with driving means, sub stantially 'as described.

19. Plate registering and clamping means including a base provided with a series of parallel grooves, the grooves having their bottoms marginally rabbeted along each side, a pair of holding members having their lower edges seated within the rabbets of each groove, securing devices comprising screws mounted in the base one between each pair of contiguous grooves with its head provided with a depending flange taking over and engaging the upper edge of the adjacent members in said grooves to secure the same in place, the two members in each groove having opposed faces obliquely ribbed in opposite directions, a clamp having a body portion disposed within the groove and an overhanging hook portion arranged obliquely with reference to said groove, a pair of intermeshing spirally threaded screws of different lead housed within the clamp body and mounted to rotate in a common plane at an angle to the ribbed faces of the holding members, the threads of the screw of greater lead extending beyond the face of the clamp body into mesh with the ribs of oneof the holding members and the other screw provided with driving means, substantially as described.

20. The combination, in a plate clamping device, of a ribbed track, two intermeshing screws mounted to rotate in substantially the same plane, at least one of the screws having a plurality of parallel threads, the lead of the two screws being different and their pitch the same, the screw of greater lead in mesh with the ribbed track and the other screw provided with driving means, substantially as described. I 21. The combination, in a plate clamping device, of a ribbed track, two intermeshing screws with their axes substantially parallel,

each screw having a plurality of parallel threads, the lead of the two screws being different and their pitch the same, the screw of greater lead in mesh with the ribbed track and the other screw provided with driving means, substantially as described.

22. The combination with a ribbed support, of a body to be propelled along said support, and a pair of intermeshing screws carried by the body, at least one of the screws having a plurality of parallel threads with a different lead and the same pitch as the other screw, said screws mounted to rotate in a common plane at an angle to the ribbed face of the support, one of the screws in mesh with the ribs and the other provided with driving means, substantially as described.

23. The combination with a support having upon its face obliquely arranged ribs, of a body to be propelled along and transversely of said support, and a pair of intermeshing screws carried by the body, said screws having threads of different lead and of the same pitch, said screws mounted with their axes parallel to each other, the screw of greater lead being in mesh with the ribs and the other screw provided with driving means, substantially as described.

24. The combination with a support having on its face obliquely arranged ribs, of a body to be propelled along and transversely of said support, and a pair of intermeshing screws earned by the body, said screws having a dissimilar number of parallel threads, the threads of the two screws being of different lead and the same pitch, said screws mounted with their axes parallel to each other, the screw of greater lead being in mesh with the ribs and the other screw provided with driving means, substantially as described.

MICHAEL ANDREW DROITCOUR. Witnesses:

LEWIS T. GREIs'r, LUTHER JoHNs. 

